-Spaceship armor now adds damage reduction equal to 1/2 of the maximum shield rating for its size. Cost is equal to shields for the same amount of damage reduction

-Determining how much starship shields drop when attacked – reduce shield power by 1/2 the amount the attack exceeds the SR (round down to the nearest 5).
—Example: SR 100 takes 150 damage, current SR falls to 75 {150-100 = 50/2 = 25}

The Sector in Brief
The sectors of the known universe are divided into four categories based primarily on their relative location to the Federation capitol worlds: core, central, distant, and fringe. There exist, of course, many sectors as yet unexplored, but it takes prohibitively expensive equipment and crews to explore new hyperspace lanes, chart systems, and terraform and colonize new worlds. As such, we will focus on our little chunk of space.
This is a fringe-class sector known in government records and Sector 225-413, but locals call it Eblan. While Elban is far away enough from the core to be considered fringe, it is by no means a sector of shanties and shacks (so to speak). It has highly developed industrial, agricultural, raw material, and densely populated worlds (as well as several desert planets and a few ocean worlds as well). Elban also has well developed governmental and economic aspects as well – political agendas and trade rights influence the happenings in the sector just as much as anything else. This is not to say that backwater areas do not exist (desert planets are rife with them, and every planet has an undesirable spot or two…) but that the main cities are pretty advanced (not the pinnacle of technology – that is found closer to the core – but plenty schnazzy and comfy).
One final tidbit that should not be overlooked is that all traffic into and out of Elban is controlled by the United Federation via a pair of heavily armed space stations that prevent all unauthorized transit into and out of the hyperspace artery. A fun combination of customs and the DMZ between North and South Korea.

PlanetsAlfen – Raw Materials – Main supplier for Irsha, has a triangle with Irsha and Yozan, usually referred to as the YAI Triangle. These three planets form a convenient micro-economy (on a galactic scale) and as such tend to be somewhat reclusive. The residents of all three planets rely on the other two of the YAI Triangle, which makes for a close bond between the three. They are not opposed to contact and/or trade from outside the triangle (and indeed, there are obviously items not available from within) but the people there are workers {think WWII generation} and do not welcome slackers or freeloaders.

Biver – Desert – The corner of ‘no’ and ‘where’, Biver is the ideal location for people that want to be left to their simple lives. It is as out-of-the-way as you can get in this sector, and that’s how the residents like it. As such, it is a very lightly populated planet and so its residents are mostly farmers, maintenance technicians, and local traders.

Chentao – Raw Materials – While this sector was being explored, Chentao was found to poses incredibly extensive veins of essential minerals and ores. Corporations began mining operations on this planet over twenty years ago, but they have not even exhausted 5% of the known available resources.

Denneau – Agrarian – Tucked away in massive asteroid belts and the like, Denneau’s only access to anywhere else is through Onoda. As such, Onoda forces Denneau to accept either absurdly low prices for their goods or charges them egregiously high tariffs for flying through their space.

Gabor – Populated – The seat of power of Vogga Hutin, also the main conduit between half the sector and the Federation Hyperway, obviously lending itself to a massive trade economy. Of course many, many other individuals and corporations make a place for themselves on Gabor.

Hansa – Industrial – A thriving industrial world, Hansa specializes in heavy machinery – terraforming equipment, labor droids, cargo trucks, and the like can all be found here. The economy reflects the general feeling of the planet’s inhabitants: bigger is better – ALWAYS!

Irsha – Industrial – As the primary access point between the AYI Triangle and the rest of the sector, Irsha has a thriving trade economy and boasts several of the most efficient spaceports in the sector. However, while most planets would focus on trade economy alone, Irshians have continued their dedication to productivity. Its industry is much smaller than the other industrial planets in the sector, but it secures its place in the galactic economy by being essentially the sole provider of advanced droids in the area. While Hansa can make mindless labor droids, Irsha provides the finest protocol, navigation, and even some combat droids.

Jagras – >90% Water – Like the other water planets in the sector, Jagras is home to an amphibious race called the Selkath. Unlike other water worlds, however, only Jagras is capable of producing Kolto – a highly effective (and as a result incredibly valuable) healing agent. As this is the only planet in the sector capable of producing this good, and importing Kolto is extremely expensive, all political factions in the sector are very interested in securing it. The native populous, however, is adamantly neutral in conflict (allowing them to sell to all sides) and threatens to destroy production facilities if attacked.

Kaing – Desert – There will always be individuals that seek a quiet and simple life of hard work, and the desert planets are their destination. Kaing also makes a very convenient layover point for commerce and travel between Reijh, Udine, Hansa, and beyond. As such, while the majority of the planet is comprised of desert with the occasional moisture farm, there are three main spaceports that manage over 95% of inter-system traffic.

Leisure – >90% Water – The explorers of this sector quickly realized that the main world of this system would be developed for recreational purposes and named it accordingly. Sparkling blue-green oceans, lush tropical islands, and black-sand beaches account for this system’s name and fame. While there are other resort systems, this one is the choice of the discerning luxary-seeker.

Manfro – Industrial – Manfro is an industrial giant. It supplies almost all the technical goods for the surrounding systems (of which there are many). It provides everything from personal and corporate security systems to communications equipment to small-scale propulsion systems (ground-based vehicles) to any number of contraptions and/or knick-knacks. Corporations have long since learned not to compete with Hansa and Irsha on specialty equipment, but you want almost anything else, it’s made here.

Natori – >90% Water – Known as the ‘rest planet’, Natori is the destination for anyone looking to get away from it all. Off towards nowhere, almost nobody goes there except for vacations.

Onoda – Populated – Some individuals look to be off on their own, and others like to be right in the middle of everything. Onoda is the happy medium between the two ends of that spectrum. For the people that want to lose themselves as close to the edge of the map as possible yet still want the comforts of modern living, Onoda is heaven-sent.

Palach – Agrarian – Palarch is a lush jungle world that has a thriving produce export economy – Gabor being the primary buyer. Don’t let the beauty of this planet fool you, though. The farmers of Palach have to heavily fortify their farms against the indigenous creatures or else run the risk of being torn to pieces by them.

Reijh – Populated – While not the only access point to the right half of the sector, it is the primary route. It also serves as one of the two major population centers in this sector. Also, as it is the larger of the two main population centers, it is also the seat of Federation power in the sector (or perhaps the causality is the other way around…). Regardless, The Federation Embassy and all the necessary government buildings for the sector are here, as well as the main garrison of Federation military.

Saburo – Desert – There are people that make their living in the arid plains of Saburo, and even a few hunters and trappers that operate in the deserts and canyon systems of the planet where rare and often dangerous animals roam. Of course the real importance of this planet is that it is the only real route to and from Onoda and Denneau and the rest of the sector (or anywhere, for that matter).

Tamagra – Agrarian – Tamagra is responsible for the greater portion of food and livestock to the planets Biver, Leisure, Hansa, Vassar, and Natori. In order to accommodate so many planets (and because of its proximity to Hansa), it is teeming with heavily automated farms, ranches, and processing facilities.

Udine – Agrarian – Udine provides foodstuffs for Kaing and Reijh. There are also whispers of a special fruit grown here, but everyone knows those to be nothing but children’s fantasies.

Vassar – Raw Materials – Vassar is important for two reasons: first, it is the primary supplier of raw materials and ores to Hansa. Second, it is essentially a forced layover point for Natori. While individuals traveling to the ‘rest planet’ can continue past Vassar without landing, the gravity of the planet prevents them from simply flying by. As such, it serves as home base for a great many charter pilots (they have a ship and can ferry people to and from Natori, but cannot afford hangar fees at the rest planet) and so is also a great source of local information and gossip.

Wolfson – Agrarian – As it is much closer to the top-left cluster, it has been thoroughly developed to provide the surrounding planets with food supplies. It is also known for having highly efficient spaceports and loading/unloading facilities and processes. In fact, the air traffic controllers and ground crews of Wolfson are known for being supremely impatient with anyone who hesitates in their spaceports.

Yozan – Agrarian – A key part of the YAI Triangle, Yozan provides the overwhelming majority of produce to the other two. As an additional boon to the YAI Triangle (and a contributing factor to its success) Yozan has the perfect climate for several foods considered exotic and rare in this sector. Cartels control the production and distribution thereof and in so doing keep the price high.

NPCs of InterestVogga Hutin – Crime Lord – This far out, there is bound to be an element of organized crime. In our scrap of space, the leader’s name is Vogga Hutin/ He has long since taken control of the seedy underbelly of this sector. While some few argue that Vogga’s control over the black markets, crime syndicates, and other dirtbag confederations limits violence and moderates the filth, it is commonly known that Vogga’s ambitions know no bounds and he will hoard every scrap of power he can and encourage those under him to do likewise.

Rukdha – Viper’s Creed Boss – Another element to be expected is raiders – here the Viper’s Creed is a band of raiders that has eliminated most of their competition through an impressive display of both cunning and sheer brutality and now more or less go and strike where they please – though they do not seem quite strong enough to bother Vogga, nor have they shown any hostile intent towards him or anyone under his considerable umbrella. For herself, Rukdha is the main reason for the success of Viper’s Creed. Before she seized control they were nothing more than a roving band of bloodthirsty pirates. But when she took command, she instituted strict discipline and principles which were not to be forgotten for an instant. Initially the Viper’s Creed shriveled and many thought it doomed to failure, but very quickly new recruits were lining up to have a shot at becoming a Viper. Word on the street is that even if a pilot shows up with his or her own ship, if they do not pass the very demanding physical and psychological evaluations they are rejected and can never apply again.

Commander Darius Lohrn – Commanding Officer of local Federation fleet – While this is essentially the fringe of civilization, The United Federation still claims this territory as its own and does exert no small influence in the region. “The Federation cares about all its worlds, and as such must dedicate the finest military equipment and technology available to ensure the continued safety and prosperity of its citizens.” That was said by the Overseer of the United Federation of Planets when he was re-appointed to his position three years ago (Overseers serve seven-year terms). Since then, there has been a fairly steady decline in Federation military presence (especially on the fringe) but they are still here and are not to be trifled with.